Laundry machine



Dec. 16, 1930. G. w, DUNHAM 1,785,577

LAUNDRY MACHINE I Filed March 25, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORATTORNEY Dec. 16, 1930. G. w. DUNHAM LAUNDRY MACHINE Filed March 25, 5

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ODO 1; v 'INVENTOR 4 7 Gewyg f/flmkam ATTORNEY G. W.DUNHAM LAUNDRY MACHINE Dec. 16, 1930.

4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 25 1925 INVENTOR 560m Wfizm/mm ATTORNEYDec. 16, 1930. 5, w, DUNHAM 1,785,577

LAUNDRY MACHINE Filed March 25 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY clotheswasher,

Patented Dec. 16, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC GEOR GE WILLIS DUNHAM,OFOUTICA, YORK, ASSIGNOR 'I'O WHIRLDRY OORPORA- NEW YORK, .A CORPORATIONOF NEW YORK TION, or U'rIoA,

LAUNDRY MACHINE Application filed March 25, 1925. Serial No. 18,088.

This invention relates particularly to laundry machines for domesticuse.

Some of the more important objects of the invention are to provide .anefiicient form of in which both the lighter and the heavier dirt will beremoved and kept separated from the clothes during the washingoperation; to enable the rinsing and dry ing operations being effectedin the same machine without shifting or disturbing the clothes containeror other relatively heavy parts of the washing mechanism; to provide aneffective circulation of Washing fluid, free of stufling boxes or otherpossible points of leakage; to protect the necessary gearing and insureproper lubrication of the same; to reduce friction and enable theemploymentof a relatively light economical motor; to pro videconvenient, handy control mechanism and in general, to provide a machinewhich will be entirely practical and efiicient for the purposesintended.

These and other objects are attained by certain novel features ofconstruction, combinations and relations of parts as hereinafterdisclosed and broadly claimed.

The drawings accompanying and forming part of this specificationillustrate a typical and at present, preferred embodiment of theinvention, but it should be understood and will be apparent from thescope of the disclosure and claims, that the structure may be modifiedand changed in various respects without departure from the spirit andscope of the invention.

Figure 1 in the drawings is a side elevation and part sectional view ofthe complete machine.

and vertical sectional views respectively of the gearing, the firsttaken as on the plane of line 5-5 of Figure-6 and the second as on theplane of line 66 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a broken part sectional view of the centrifugal clutch ulleyas taken on substantially the plane 0? line 77 of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional detail of thekvalved connection betweenthe riser and tan The clothes container is shown as consisting of areceptacle 10 having an upwardly flaring side wall and a bottom whichinclines downwardly from the rim, as at 11, and thence upwardly as at 12to a central tubular portion 13 having a cap or shoulder 14 at the topresting on an anti-friction bearing 15, carried by a tubular 0st 16.,This post rises from the bottom 0 an enclosing tank 17 and is shown inFigure 2 as set into a hub or collar 18 projecting from a base plate 19,bolted over a central opening 20 in the bottom of the tank.

The receptacle 10 is intended to hold both the clothes and the washing,rinsing, bluing or other treating liquid and for that reason is shown asimperforate, except for a series of overflow openings 21 provided in theupper portion of the side wall in the plane of greatest diameter. Abovesuch openings, an upwardly inclined guard flange 22 is shown extendedinwardly a sufficient distance to prevent escape of the clothes andillustrated as having a curled or rolled edge 23 to prevent tearing orinjury to the clothes or other articles. The upwardly coned bottomportion of the receptacle is shown as braced and reinforced by a wideflange or disc 24 secured at the inside to the base of the sleeve 13 andat the outside to the deepest portion of the bottom.

The bearing cap is shown as contracted or reduced above the shoulder 14to form a sleeve 25 provided at its upper end with key ways 26 toreceive the external keys 27 on the lower end of the sliding clutchcollar 28. This collar has a set of internal keys 29 engaged withcorrespondin key ways 30 on a tubular drive shaft 31 w ich extends upthrough and has a bearing 32 in the upper end of the supporting column16.

The clutch collar 28 is shown as provided with an annular hand hold.33at its upper end by which it may be raised and lowered to clutchelement, the same may be yieldingly held in either position as by meansof a spring pressed retainer 34.

In the present disclosure an agitation of the clothes is eifected durlngthe washing operations by an agitator consisting of a conical supportcarrying a series of dependent blades 36 having the lower or rubbingedges oi the same inclined downwardly and outwardly as shown at 37. Apartial rotary, or oscillatory motion is imparted to this agitator orrubber by a drive shaft 38 extending up through the hollow shaft 31. andshown formed with key ways 39 at its upper end to receive thecorresponding keys 40 on the sleeve 41 which forms the hub or centralsup ort of the rubber. This sleeve is shown as osed over the top of theshaft so as to form a cover over theclutch collar and other parts and isindicated as having an annular grip42 formingahandle by which the a'tator may be readily liftedjofi the end 0 the shaft and be removed fromthe machine.

, The enlarged or domed po rtiom 43 of the agitator sleeve which coversthe clothes receptacle clutch also serves as a guard covering the clutchcollar and so preventing accidental operation of the clothes receptacleclutch so long as the agitator is in operation.

This is a safet feature, makingit necessary to remove or 'sconnect theclothes agitator before spinning the receptacle for centrifugaldryingoperations.

.To' permit the rubbing blades to adapt themselves more or less to theclothes being washed,- the support which carries said blades isshown ashavlng a vertically sliding keyed engagement 44 on its supporting sleeveor hu enabling the rubber proper to rise and fall with inequalities inthe wash, preve'ntin tearing of the clothes and insurin more e fectiveand complete washing of t e clothes. The necessary gearing foroscillating the agitator shaft and for rotating the high speed clothescontainer driving shaft is all contained in an oil-ti ht casing 45 inthepresent illustration, so t at pro er lubrication of these parts isassured .wit out special attention on the-part of the operator.

' The agitator shaft is shown as journaled in'a ste bearing 46 in thebottom of the ear case an as carrying a pinion 47 engaged y a rack 48(pivoted on the bottom of the casing at 49 an operated by a link 50pivoted thereto at one end at 51 and'pivoted at its opposite end at 52to a worm gear 53 engaged by the worm 54 on the drive shaft 55.

The high speed shaft is shown as having a bearin on the pinion 47 of theagitator shaft an as operated by a worm gear 56 in mesh with a worm 57on the drive shaft. The gears disclosed are arranged and proportioned toefiect the required relative y slow oscillation of the rubbers and acomparatively rapid rotation of the clothes container.

The power for operating the machine is shown as an electric motor 58suitably supported on the bottom of the tank provided with a pulley 59carrying a belt 60 running over a pulley-61 on the main gear shaft.

To enable use of a relativelysmall, light and inexpensive motor andparticularly one adapted to alternating current operation, an automaticclutch is interposed in the present disclosure in the motor connectionsfor automatically picking up the load after the motor has passedthecritical point in starting and is capable of carrying the load. Thisclutch,

as shown particularly in Fi res 5 and 7, consists of a series ofcentrifugally acting clutch elements 62 sliding in radial guides 63 inthe web of the pulley 61 and engaging an overstanding clutch drum 64carried by a collar 65 fixed on the gear shaft 55 by a key 66. Thepulley 61 is journaled on the collar 65, being rotatably confinedthereto by the flange 67. In starting therefore, the first effect of themotor is simply to spin the clutch pulley 61. The clutch segments aresuitably weighted so that they will be thrown outwardly into frictionalengagement with the surrounding clutch drum and take hold gradterposedbetween the bottom of the tank and the gear case, the upper half ofsuch-basing being formed as a part of the base 19 and the lower half 71being secured directly to the to of the gear case and forming apartition etween the gear case and pump. The inlet to the pump casing isby way of openings 7 2 to the bottom of the tank and the outlet from thepump consists ,of a conduit 73 extendingunderneath the bottom and up theside of the tank in the nature of a riser. The discharge from this riseris shown as a downturned nozzle 7 4 having a vertical portion 75slidingly. and rotatably fitted in the riser and slotted for a portionof its length at 76, as shown in Figures 1 and 8, to serve as a valvefor the passage 77 which opens outwardly from the tank into the side ofthe riser.

, It will be clear from the views referred to that when the nozzle israised to bring the valve slot 76 into register with passage 77 the pumpwill discharge directly back into the tank, the rate of such dischargebeing governed by the amount of valve opening. \Vith the nozzle loweredto entirely close off this valve, the entire discharge of the pump willbe through the nozzle, which may be turnedto direct such discharge intothe clothes container, into the top of the tank or out of and away fromthe tank.

A special feature of the pump is the elimination of objectionablestutling boxes or packing glands b a water retaining constructionconsisting o a pipe 78 set into a hub 79 in the bottom of the pumpcasing and extending up above the highest liquid level that will benormally used in the tank. This protective: piping extends up inside thehollow pump shaft 69 and the hollow pump shaft is connected with thehigh speed shaft over the top of such piping by a drive collar 80 shownas having a set screw connection 81 with shaft 31. The pump is thusdriven by the high speed shaft and the possibility of any leakage isovercome in a frictionless manner by interposition of the stand pipe 78which forms a water excluding well about both the high speed andagitator shafts.

To protect the pump, a conical strainer 82 is shown having a relativelyclose fitting engagement at the top about the supporting column 16 andremovably seated at its lower end in the central opening 20 in the tankbottom directly over the pump casing. In addition to protecting thepump, this strainer prevents any articles that might fall into the tankfrom being injured by being drawn into the pump.

In operating as a washer, the clothes are usually placed in thecontainer 10 with a suitablequantity of washing liquid and with theclutch collar 28 in the lowered position and the agitator sleeve 40engaged over the end of the central shaft 38, as indicated at the leftin Figure 2, the agitator will be oscillated back and forth causing theinclined blades 36 to exert a rubbing and rolling action on the clothes.This rubbing action may be accompanied by a washing circulation byturning the nozzle 74 so as to direct all or a portion of the wash waterinto the clothes container, which Water by overflowin the containercarries off both the lighter dirt in the form of a scum and the heavierdirt released by the rubbers and which is prevented from settling in thecontainer by the agitation and the flow of water. The overstan dingguard flange 22 prevents the lighter articles being carried off by thiscirculation which escapes through the drain openings 21.

The lighter matter washed from the clothes floats on the surface of theliquid in the tank and so is not drawn off by the pump, and

while the heavier matter settles to the bottom, this is not taken oif bythe pump, being held back by the screen and by reason of the fact thatthe velocity at the pump inlet is relatively low because of the numberand size of the inlet openings and the wide area from which the pumpdraws its supply. By lifting the nozzle, the valved passage 77 from thetank into the riser is opened and the pump may then be made to dischargeall or a portion of the liquid in circulation directly back into thetank without sending it up through the nozzle. If it is desired to wastethe water, the nozzle may be lifted far enough to clear the top of thetank and then turned outward to direct the stream clear of the tank, asindicated by the broken lines in Figure 1.

hen the washing is completed, the agitator may be disconnected andremoved by simply lifting it off the supporting shaft 38. If desired,rinse water or other liquid for bluing or otherwise treating thecontents of the container may then be, circulated by properlycontrolling the action of the pump. During these various operations thetank may be temporarily closed by a removable cover 83.

The clothes are dried without removing them from the container bycoupling the container directly to the high speed shaft. The removal ofthe agitator uncovers the clutch collar 28 and then by lifting thiscollar as indicated at the right in Figure 2, a direct clutchingengagement is effected by the interlocking teeth 26, 27 on the containerand drive shaft 31 respectively. Upon starting the motor, thecentrifugal clutch in the pulley 61 picks up the load gradually and thecontainer is rotated at sufficient speed to discharge the liquid bycentrifugal force through the drainage openings 21. During thiscentrifugal drying operation, escape of any of the articles is preventedby the overstanding guard flange 22.

The approximate liquid levels during the Washing-and the dryingoperations are indicated in Figure 1 by the lines 84 and 85, the tankbeing capable of holding all the liquid from the container plus theextra amount required for proper washing operations.

During the washing operations, the clothes container has a tendency tofollow the oscillatory motions of the rubber. To overcome this effect ayielding bumper or stop may be provided as indicated in Figures 1 and 3,the same being shown as a T-shaped lever 86, pivoted inside the tank at87, extending inwardly into position for engagement by a stud 88projecting up from the rim of the container, said lever having springs89 engaged beneath the arms forming the head of the same to enable thestop to yield in either direction. The stud 88 is shown pivoted at 90 sothat it may be swung outwardly manually to clear the stop when thecontainer is to be rotated for drying purposes. If desired, said studmay be mounted so as to automatically swing outwardly under centrifugalaction to the position shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 1.

As indicated in the drawing, the stud 88 normally remains in a verticalposition. It will be understood that the weight of the stud may be sodistributed that the comparatively great force exerted thereon byrotation of the receptacle under centrifugal drying action causes thestud to fall over or fly outwardly to the position indicated by thedottedlines in Fig. 1. It will be understood that the comparativelysmall force exerted on the'stud 88 during the comparatively gentleoscillation of the receptacle back and forth, due to the washing actionof the agitator under some conditions, is not sufficient to cause thestud to fall over to its dotted position.

To enable the apparatus being entirely drained, a valve or drain plug 91may be located in the lowest part of the circulating system, the samebeing shown interposed in the discharge conduit 7 3 leading from thepump.

The arrangement of the supporting column, drive shafts and pump all inconcentric relation, provides a balanced structure and enables theseparts to be combined as a unit applied to a single opening in the centerof the tank. The stand pipe extending up from the gear case andsurrounding the drive shafts provides a stationary frictionless seal,preventing any leakage of water about the shafts or down into the gearcase. The agitator is supported independently of the tub or clothescontainer so that the operation of one is independent of' the other andany slight misalinement of parts has no disadvantageous effect. Theconstant water circulation carri'es offthe dirt as fast as it isreleased and the arrangement disclosed prevents the entry of such dirtback into circulation so that the washing water is kept as clean aspossible.

The domed center of the agitator acts as a cap preventing accidentalshifting of the high speed clutch and protecting the clutch and shaftingfrom splash water. As the clothes container is supported on thestationary column entirely independently of the drive shaft, said shaftis subjected only to a driving function and is not afiected bymisalinement or unbalanced relations of the container. The centrifugalclutch automatically relieves the mechanism of undue loads that mightstrain the parts and enables the use of asmall motor by permitting it todevelop the required torque before assuming the load. The combining ofall the gearing in a small closed case is an aid to simplicity andcompactness. protects the gears and enables them to operate under bestconditions, surrounded by lubricant. The pump is of simple design, isoperated directly from the high speed shaft and this shaft, stepped in abath of oil, is

am 1y able to carry the thrust of the pump wit the least friction andwear. The various controls for the machine are all located at the topand therefore within convenient reach of 4 the operator. I

The container for the clothes is a receptacle of the closed orimperforate t e so far as the washing action is concerned since it iscapable of holding the clothes and wash water. The pump, gear case andsupporting column ma be considered as a combination unit which can behandled and applied as such over the opening in the bottom of the tank.The bypass for throwing the discharge from the pump back into the tankis readily controlled by sliding and rotating the nozzle in the riserportion of the pump conduit. The drain cock located at the lowestportion of the pump conduit beneath the .tank serves for draining boththe pump and the vertical portion of the conduit.

The motor is governed by a suitable controller and the same is shown asa switch 92 located inside one of the hollow legs 93 supporting the tankand actuated by-a rod or link 94 extending up the side of the tankthrough a guide 95 and provided with a convenient hand-hold 96 locatedwithin easy reach near the top of the tank. The gearin being entirelyenclosed and operating in oi performs quietly, efiiciently and requiresno special attention.

The structure illustrated involves a practical commercialembodiment ofthe invention, but changes from this disclosure may be found desirableor necessary to meet particular requirements, such changes beingcontemplated and coming within the scope of the appended claims. Itshould be understood also that the language employed herein is used in adescriptiverather than in a limiting sense, except possibly for suchlimitations as may be imposed by the prior art.

Some of the features such as the spring buiier for the clothesreceptacle and the by pass between the riser and tank may be omittedunder certain circumstances, as in different models of the machine.

The riser may be extended below the lateral portion of the pump conduitso as to form .a well or trap 97, for sediment or the like and the drainplug be located at the bottom of this well. .The trap ed sediment canthus be readily drained 0 To reduce vibrationand facilitate assemblageof the parts, the intermediate section of the pump conduit may consistof a section of rubber hose 98 engaged at the inner end over the mouthof the pump outlet and at the outer end over a lateral extension 99 onthe side of the riser. The riser thus constitutes a separate unit whichmay be secured at the side of the tank by suitable clamp brackets 100and 101, the latter or upper one being shown constructed with upstandingWalls to form a cup for catching any leakage about the nozzle anddraining the same back into the tank through an openlng 103 in the tankwall.

The nozzle may be further utilized to control the circulation byextending the vertical portion of the same down into the trap andproviding it with a valve opening 104 for registry with the lateralextension 99. The lower end of the nozzle is shown as hearing on thebottom of the trap 50 as to definitely position the valve opening in theplane of registry with the pump passage.

It will be seen that upon lifting the nozzle the pump passage may beclosed off and to prevent the nozzle being accidently lifted past thisclosed position, an inwardly projecting stop 105 is shown on the upperportion of ,the nozzle for engagement with the overstanding rim 106 ofthe tank. A direct lifting movement of the nozzle to the extentpermitted by this stop therefore serves to shut off the pump discharge.Upon turning the nozzle outwardly, however, the stop will be carriedfrom beneath the limiting flange and the nozzle may then be lifted farenough to bring the lower end of the nozzle pipe into register with thelateral passage 99; whereupon, the discharge will be through the nozzle,controlled by the lifting, lowering and turning movements of the nozzle.In this elevated position the nozzle Will be high enough to dischargeinto a stationary tub, sink or the like.

In the foregoing description and in the claims the term imperforate typeas applied to the receptacle is intended to include any type ofreceptacle which is sufficiently imperforate to hold laundry liquid forwashing regardless of the fact that holes may be provided for certainpurposes.

\Vhat is claimed is:

1. In apparatus of the character disclosed, a tank, a tubular columntherein, a clothes receptacle journaled on said column, a drive shaftfor the rece tacle extending up through said column, a c utch forcoupling and uncoupling said shaft to and from the receptacle, anagitator shaft extending up through said drive shaft, an agitatoroperating in the receptacle, means for coupling and uncoupling theagitator with respect to the agitator shaft, a gear box at the foot ofthe column and gearing in said box for operating the drive shaft andagitator shaft respectively.

2. In apparatus of the character disclosed, a tank having a bottomopening, a pump casing and gear box secured over said bottom opening, asupporting column extending from the pump casing up through the 0 eninginto the tank, shafting extending rom the gear box up through saidcolumn, a clothes receptacle journaled on the column and adapted to bedriven by a portion of the shafting, agitator mechanism adapted to bedriven 'by another portion of the shafting,

a tank, a supporting column in said tank, a

clothes receptacle journaled on said column,

a drive shaft for said receptacle extending.

up through the column, a water retaining tube extending up into thecolumn around the drive shaft, a pump at the foot of the column,including an impeller and a drive shaft for the impeller connected toand extending from the receptacle drive shaft down over the waterretaining tube, said pump having communication with said tank.

4. In apparatus of the character disclosed, a tank, a clothes receptacleoperating inthe tank, a pump including a casing in communication withthe tank and an impeller operating in said casing, a gear case below thepump casing, a drive shaft for the clothes receptacle. extending, fromthe gear case up through the pump casing and inside the impeller, awater retaining tube extendin from the gear case up over said driveshaft and a drive shaft for the impeller connected with the receptacledrive shaft over the top of the water retaining tube.

5. In apparatus of the character. disclosed, a tank, a clothesreceptacle operating in the tank, a pump including a casing incommunication with the tank and an impeller operating in said casing, aear case below the pump casing, a drive shaft for the clothes receptacleextending from the gear case up through the pump casing and inside theimpeller, a water retaining tube extending from the gear ease up oversaid drive shaft, a drive shaft for the impeller connected with thereceptacle drive sh aft over the top of the water retaining tube, anagitator shaft extending from the gear ease up through the receptacledrive shaft and an agitator within the receptacle adapted to be drivenby said agitator shaft.

6. In washing and drying apparatus, a tank, a pump casing secured to thebottom of the tank, a tubular column extending from said pump casing upinto the tank, a gear case below the pump casing, a water retaining tubeextending from said gear case through the pump casing up into thecolumn, a clothes receptacle journaled on the column, a drive shaft forsaid receptacle extending from the gear case up through the waterretaining tube, an impeller. within the pump casing and a driveconnection for said impeller being connected to and extending from thedrive shaft down over the outside of the water retaining tube, said umphaving communication'with said tank 7. In apparatus of the characterdisclosed, a tank having a bottom opening and a combination unit appliedover said opening com- .tank, a gear case below the pump prising a pumpcasing open to the tank and carrying a column projecting up I 1nto thetank, a gear case below the pump casing, gearing in said case andshafting extending from said gearing up through the pump casing and thecolumn supported there y.

8. In apparatus of the character disclosed, a tank having a bottomopening and a combination unit applied over said 0 emng comprising apump casing open to t e tank and carrying a column projecting up Intothe casmg, gearing in said case, shafting extendlng from said gearing upthrough the pump casing and the column supported thereby and a Waterretaining tube extending from the gear ease up aroun said shafting.

9. In apparatus of the character disclosed, a tank having a bottomopening and a combination unit applied over said opening comprising apump casing open to the tank and carrying a column pro1ect1ng up intothe tank, a gear case below the pump casing, gearing in said case,shafting extending from said gearing up through the pump casing and thecolumn supported thereby, a water retaining tube extending from the gearcase up around said shafting, a clothes receptacle journaled on thecolumn and clutch means at the top of the colunm for coupling anduncoupling the receptacle and drive shaft.

10. In apparatus of the character d sclosed, a gear case, gearingenclosed in 'SBJd case, shafting operated by said gearing and projectingupwardly from the case, a pump casing over the gear case and having aninletopening, a supporting column projecting from the pump .casingaround the-shafting, a water retaining tube surrounding the shafting,'animpeller in the pump casing. and a tubular connection for driving thesame connected to and extending from the drive shafting down over thewater retaining tube. 11. In apparatus of the character disclosed, aclothes receptacle, a surrounding tank, a receptacle operating shaftextend ing up through the bottom of the tank, a water circulating pumpconcentrically disposed with respect to said shaft, a Water retainingtube surrounding said shaft and a tubular pump operating connectionconnected to and extending from said shaft down over the water tube. a

- 12. In apparatus of the character disclosed, a tank, a clothesreceptaclejournaled in the tank, a shaft for rotating the receptacle, apump in communication with the tank and arranged concentrically withrespect to said shaft and a conduit from the pump said conduit havingmeans controllable to direct the discharge of the pump into the tank orthe receptacle, and structural devices for maintaining the discharge endof said conduit in operative relation to said selected positions.

interposed between said shaft and sleeve for coupling and uncoupling theshaft and receptacle and an agitator having a hub portion covering saidclutch collar.

14. In apparatus of the character disclosed, a tank, a supporting columnin said tank, a clothes receptacle journaled on said column and having aclutch sleeve at the top of the same, a drive shaft extending throughsaid clutch sleeve, a clutch collar slidably interposed between saidshaft and sleeve for coupling and uncoupling the shaft and receptacle,an agitator shaft extending up through the receptacle driving shaft andan agitator removably engaged on said agitator shaft and covering theclutch collar.

15. In apparatus of the character disclosed, a tank, a clothesreceptacle journaled therein, a pump, a conduit extending from the pumpand including a riser at the side of the tank, a nozzle slidably engagedin said riser for directing a discharge of the pump back into thereceptacle and a bypass from the riser into the tank controlled by saidslidable nozzle. v

16. In apparatus of the character disclosed,.a tank havingan opening inthe bottom of the same, a pump casing secured over said opening and opento the tank, a column extending from said pump casing up into the tankand a conical strainer removably seated in the tank opening extendingfrom the pump casing upwardly and inwardly to the column. I

17. In washing apparatus, a rotatably supported clothes receptacle, aspring buffer engageable by said receptacle and yieldable in oppositedirections to cushion and start the receptacle oscillating in oppositedirections and an oscillating agitator operating on the contents of thereceptacle and thereby tending to swing the receptacle oppositely intoengagement with the buffer.

18. In washing apparatus, a rotatably supported clothes rece taclehaving a buffer element, a spring bu er engageable by. said element andyieldable in opposite directions to cushion and start the receptacleoscillating in opposite directions, an oscillating agitator operating onthe contents of the receptacle and thereby tending to swing said elementoppositely into engagement with the buffer,

"means for rotating the receptacle to dry the contents by centrifugalforce and means for automatically effecting disengagement of the elementand bufier under such centrifugal drying action.

19. In apparatus of the character disclosed, a rotatably mounted clothesreceptacle, a springbufi'er for cushioning rotative movements of saidreceptacle and a pivoted stop on the receptacle adapted to be swung intoposition for engagement with or clear of the bufier.

20. In. washing apparatus, a tank, a clothes receptacle journaled insaid tank, drive gearing for the receptacle on the bottom of the tank, amotor for operating said gearing, legs for supporting the tank, a switchfor the mo- .tor mounted in one of said supporting legs and an operatingrod for said switch extending from said leg up the side of the tank.

21. In washing apparatus, a tank, hollow legs supporting said tank, amotor for the washing apparatus mounted on the bottom of the tank, acontroller for said motor mounted in one of the hollow legs of the tankand an operating rod extending from said controller up the outside tonear the top of the tank.

22. In apparatus of the character disclosed, a tank, a clothesreceptacle operating there in, a pump for circulating the washing fluid,a conduit extending from the pump and including a riser at the side ofthe tank provided with a catch basin at the lower end of the same, adrain plug in said catch basin and a nozzle having an upright portionengaged in the riser and engaged in said catch basin.

23. In a paratus of the character disclosed, a tank, a c othesreceptacle operating in said tank, a circulating conduit extending fromthe bottom of the tank, up the side of the tankv and'provided with adischarge nozzle at the J upper end of the same and a drain from theupright portion of the conduit into the side of the tank.

24.. In apparatus of the character disclosed, a tank, a clothesreceptacle operating in said tank, a circulating conduit extending fromthe bottom of the tank, up the side of the tank and provided with adischarge nozzle at the upper end of the same and a drain from theupright portion of the conduit into the side of the tank and including abracket for holding said upright portion to the tank wall and providedwith an-upstanding rim forming a drainage cup, the tank wall having anopening in line with said drainage cup.

25. In apparatus of the character disclosed, a tank, a clothesreceptacle operating in said tank, a pump suspended from the bottom ofthe tank and subject to vibrations, a riser secured to the side of thetank and piping from said pump to the riser including a section offlexible tubing to prevent the vibrations of the pump from beingcommunicated to said riser.

26. In apparatus of the character disclosed, a tank, a clothesreceptacle operating in said tank, a pump on the bottom of the tank, a

riser at the sideof the tank, a lateral con-' duit from the pump openinginto said riser,

a nozzle shiftably engaged in the riser and having a portion for valvingthe lateral pump outlet and cooperating stops on the nozzle and tank forlimiting the shifting -movements of the nozzle, said stops beingrelatively disengageable upon a rotary turning movement of the nozzlewith respect to the riser.

27. In apparatus of the character disclosed, a riser tube, a flow pipeadjustably disposed within said tube and means for securing said risertube to a tank including a drainage cup for catching liquid leaking fromthe joint between said riser tube and flow pipe, whereby said drainagecup may drain into the tank.

28. In apparatus of the character disclosed, a tank, a riser tube at theside of said tank, a conduit connecting said tube and tank, a bypassfrom said riser tube to said tank, a-fiow pipe having communication withsaid tank and with said tube, and means whereby said by-pass iscontrolled by movement of said flow pipe.

29. In apparatus of the character disclosed, a tank, a riser tube havinga port spaced from an end thereof, a conduit connecting said port andtank, a flow pipe disposed within are in register and also when the openend of said flow pipe is disposed above said port, communication isestablished through said riser tube and flow pipe.

30. In apparatus of the character disclosed, a receptacle having aclutch sleeve, a support for said receptacle, a drive shaft within saidclutch sleeve, and a clutch collar slidably interposed between saidclutch sleeve and drive shaft for coupling and uncoupling said shaft andreceptacle.

31. In a laundry machine, a laundry receptacle having a clutch sleeve, asupport for said receptacle, a tubular drive shaft within said clutchsleeve, a clutcn collar slidably interposed between said clutch sleeveand drive shaft, means whereby, in the upper position of said collar,said receptacle and shaft are coupled and in the lower position of saidcollar said receptacle and shaft are uncoupled, an agitator, an agitatordrive shaft within said tubular shaft, means whereby said agitator maybe positioned on said agitator shaft only when said clutch collar is inits lower position.

32. In a laundry machine, a laundry receptacle, a support for saidreceptacle, an agitator, driving means for rotating said receptacle forcentrifugal drying and operating said agitator for washing, said drivingmeans including driving mechanism, a clutch for connecting anddisconnecting said receptacle thereto and a drive shaft for saidagitator, and means whereby said agitator may not be placed on saiddrive shaft when means for automatically effecting disengagement of thestop element and buffer element under such centrifugal drying action.

' 34. In apparatus of the character disclosed, a tank, a tubularsupporting column rising from and supported by the bottom of said tank,a receptacle mounted on said column, a drive shaft for the receptacleextending up through the column, a pump having a rotary elementconcentrically disposed with respect to the shaft, at the foot of thecolumn and drive connections from the shaft to said rotary element, saidpiimp having communication with said tank.

35. In apparatus of the character disclosed, a tank. a tubularsupporting column rising from the bottom of said tank, a receptaclemounted on said column, a drive shaft for the receptacle extending upthrough the column, a pump communicating with said tank and having arotary element concentrically disposed with respect to the shaft, at thefoot of the column and drive connections from the shaft to said rotaryelement, in-

cluding a section of tubular shafting connected with the drive shaft ata point above the bottom of the tank and a tubular water well extendingfrom the pump upwardly about the drive shaft and inside the tubular pumpshafting.

36. In apparatus of the character disclosed, a tank having an opening inthe bottom of the same and a drive shaft. extending up through saidopening, a pump having a rotary element and disposed below the tank andconcentrically arranged with respect to said drive shaft, a water wellextending from the pump up around the drive shaft and a tubular pumpshaft extending from the drive shaft over the upper edge of the waterwell down to and connected with the rotary element of the pump, saidpump com municating with said .tank.

37. In apparatus of the character disclosed, a horizontally disposedrotary pump, a drive shaft extending freely up throughthe rotary elementof the pump, a tubular water well extending from the bottom of the pumpcasing up around said shaft and a tubular shaft connected with therotary element of the pump, extending upwardly around the water well andconnected with the drive shaft over the top of the water well.

38. In apparatus of the character disclosed,

reely up through the rothe pump, extending upwardly around the waterwell and connected with the drive shaft over the top of the water well,the pump casing consisting of horizontally separable sections, the uppersection having a hub for supporting a tubular element surrounding thepump shaft and the lower section having ahub providing a seat for thetubular water well.

39. In apparatus of the character disclosed, a tank having a bottomopening, a rotary pump beneath the tank and in communication therewiththrough said bottom opening, said pump having a laterally extendingdischarge conduit and a riser extending from said discharge conduit intocommunication with the interior of the tank, said riser being rigidlysecured to the side of the tank and the discharge conduit of the pumphaving a section of flexible hose interposed therein.

40. In apparatus of the character disclosed,

a tank, a column rising from the bottom, of said tank, a pump below thetank and connected therewith by a passage about the column and asubstantially conical screen extending between the column and the bottomof the tank over said passage.

41. In apparatus of the character disclosed, a tank having a bottomopening, a rotary pump having a horizontally disposed casing suspendedfrom the tank bottom and in communication with said bottom opening, asupporting column extending from the pum casing up into the tank, a recetacle mounte on said column, an impeller wlthin the pump casing at thefoot of said column, a gear supported from the pump casing, a driveshaft for the receptacle extending from the gear box up through theimpeller and the supporting column and connections from the drive shaftto the impeller.

42. In apparatus of the character disclosed, a tank having a bottomopening, a rotary pump having a horizontally disposed casing suspendedfrom the tank bottom and in communication with said bottom opening, asupporting column extending from the pump casing up into the tank, areceptacle mounted on said column, an impeller within the pump casing atthe foot of said column, a gear box supported from the pump casing, adrive shaft for the receptacle extending from the gear box up throughthe impeller and the supporting column and connections from the driveshaft to the impeller, including a tubular shaft secured to the driveshaft at a point within the column and extended downward to andconnected with the im eller and a tubular water well extending rom thepump casing up inside the tubular pump shaft and about the drive shaft.1

43. In apparatus of the character disclosed a rotary pump comprising acasing having an 5 impeller therein, a drive shaft passing through thewalls of said casing, the upper wall of said casing having an inletopening, a tubular liquid retaining well secured to the lower wall ofthe casing, surrounding said' shaft and extending up beyond said upperwall, and a drive member connected to said shaft above said well and tosaid impeller.

44. In apparatus of the character disclosed, a horizontally dis osedrotary pump comprising a casing ma e up of separable sections, animpeller therein, a drive-shaft passing through the walls of bothsections, the upper section having a tubular upstanding hub surroundingthe drive-shaft and inlet openings :0 arranged around said hub, thelower section having a depending hub surrounding said shaft, a tubularwell seated in said depending hub and extending up beyond saiduppersection, and a drive sleeve connected to said shaft above said well andto said impeller.

45. In combination, a clothes receptacle rotatable on a vertical axis,a'vertical shaft for driving said receptacle, a rotary pumpconcentrically disposed with respect to said shaft,

means connecting the pump and shaft a gear box dependent from andsupported by said pump, means for supporting said pump, means in saidgear box for driving said-vertical shaft, and means for transferringliquid 85 between receptacle and pump.

46. A laundry machine comprising a tank having a conical bottom platesloping downwardly toward an o ening in the center thereof, and asurroun' ing wall secured to said 40 bottom plate at the'edge thereof, alaundry machine assembly supported by said bottom plate at said opening,said assembly comprising a pump secured to the lower side of said bottomplate, a pedestal rising from said pump, a receptacle sup orted by saidpedestal, and a gear box d dpending from said pump.

In testlmony whereof I have hereunto set 'my hand.

GEORGE WILLIS DUNHAM.

